The Federal Government has officially lifted the ban that previously restricted National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members from being posted to the private sector. Corps members are now eligible to serve in a range of private organizations, including banks and oil and gas companies. This policy shift, effective from the commencement of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Orientation exercise, marks a significant change in the NYSC structure.

In a memo issued by the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, on November 18, 2024, the government announced the immediate relaxation of the restriction, which had been in place since the tenure of former Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Bolaji Abdullahi. The previous policy aimed to prevent private companies from exploiting inexpensive labor by limiting corps members’ service to the public sector, particularly in sectors such as education, agriculture, health, and infrastructure.

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Olawande explained that the new directive was part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader strategy to address youth unemployment by ensuring that corps members gain valuable experience relevant to their fields of study. The policy intends to open up opportunities for corpers in key industries, ultimately improving their chances in the competitive job market.

“By lifting this ban, we are allowing youth corps members to gain experience in sectors aligned with their academic backgrounds, an opportunity that was restricted under the old policy,” Olawande said. He also emphasized that the initial phase of the new policy would apply to Lagos and Abuja, with plans to expand it to other regions.